Art auctioned sight unseen

We are conditioned not to touch works of art, only to look at them. But for people who are visually impaired, seeing isn't believing — touching and feeling are.

That's the idea behind Art in the Dark, a program of the San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind. The nonprofit has worked with the blind community in San Antonio for more than 80 years.

At the third Art in the Dark on Thursday at the Witte Museum, 47 artists donated pieces to be auctioned sight unseen. The works, predominantly ceramics, were covered by a cloth for most of the night. People could only touch the pieces to figure out if they wanted to bid on them.

“A lot of people ask the color of the pieces because that is something they have no way of feeling,” said artist Linda Perez. “There has been a very positive feedback from people that enjoy just feeling the texture of the piece.”

At the end of the night, the pieces were revealed. Of the high bidders most were surprised by what they found. Sandra Mauricio, for instance, discovered she had purchased a ceramic pug.

“I'm very happy with the piece,” Mauricio said. “My grandson is going to love it.”

Almost all of the money from ticket sales and the art silent auction will go to a new program called the Blind Children's Foundation.

“The foundation will get children ready for a more mainstreamed life,” said Nancy Lipton, director of public relations for the Lighthouse. “We also want to be a total resource for parents, how they can help their child.”

Art in the Dark is intended to raise awareness in San Antonio, where blind residents number more than 50,000.